FundRaiser Blog

The FundRaiser Software Blog is an excellent resource for nonprofit organizations looking to learn more about fundraising, donor management, membership management, and much more.

How to Capture Email Addresses from First Time Online Donors

How to Capture Email Addresses from First Time Online Donors

When someone makes their first online donation to your organization, do you automatically add their name to your email contact list? This is a "Best Practice, for most organizations. Here's why:

First, consider that the reasons for an opt-in or a double opt-in on an email list:

  • to make sure that the person entering the email address is the owner of the email address
  • to determine if the owner of the email address is really interested in the sort of content you are likely to send out in emails

In the case of someone making a donation, they are almost certainly going to enter in their own email address in order to receive the receipt and other donation-related communications. You can also assume that if someone donates to your organization that they are interested in what you do.

Even so, there isn’t one 'best practice' for all types of organizations. It will depend in part on the size of your organization, and possibly the culture and personality that you are trying to convey. That said, I think in general, the best practice would be to assume that when someone donates they will want to hear from you. In fact, it might even be discourteous not to communicate with them further about how their money is being used and other ongoing work that you do.

An ideal set up would be to capture contact information for the donation and then, on the same page in an easy-to-see place, put a check box with the default set to add the donor to your organization’s email list. Next to that check box, say something like "Please keep me informed of how my money is going to be used'. This allows the donor to easily opt-out, but unless they choose to do so, their address will be added to your email list.

For myself, I prefer to always be offered a choice to opt in or out when I make a donation to an organization. I never like to be added automatically to a mailing list and I also don’t like to have to search around to find out where to sign up for further communications if I am interested in receiving those. It reflects well on an organization to offer an easy way to opt-in that also provides me with an easy choice to opt-out.

One case where I would suggest not making opt-in a default would be if you have a very large organization, like the Red Cross. For this kind of organization, people often want to make a single donation, in response to a disaster, but not be ongoing donors. In that case, still offer the option to be added to your mailing list, but leave the choice unmarked so that they have to specifically select to join the mailing list.

To learn how FundRaiser can help you communicate meaningfully with your donors, whether by email or land mail

Have a look at this Quick Overview Video of FundRaiser Software

Even Donor Management Improves with a Break
Four Great Times To Call Support

Related Posts

Wait a minute, while we are rendering the calendar
role of nonprofits thank you letters passwords GoFundMe project online donations membership programs monthly giving government grants increasing giving amounts SYBUNTS annual maintenance plan Thanksgiving donor retention memorial giving development director change of address updating large donations accounting software planned giving volunteering Cloud spare fields Constant Contact FundRaiser Hosted direct mail donor loyalty PayPal follow up email custom page moves management letter templates add ons data analysis giving history donor engagement foundations End of Year Letters relationship tracking FundRaiser Spark community supported gardens holiday on site training ticketsales support major gift prospects product news publicity materials solicitors general NCOA processing understanding giving trends pledges Crowdfunding Campaign data conversion data entry budget volunteers charity golf tournaments corporate sponsors event management Codes technical support appeal legacy giving welcome packet grassroots campaign community broadcasting in honor of donations Donor Portal tribute gifts donor targeting segmenting donors upgrade endowment campaign Volunteer module ROI advanced tab announcements Importing Data Personalizing social media lapsed donor planning donation history Groupings holiday giving new donors tech tip targeted mailings board members Task List capital campaign auction Alternative Addresses salutation animal rescue personalizing letters donor source Resiliency reports operating systems fundraising word processor password protection Excel new leadership Reminders National Change of Address GivingTuesday annual campaign how-to videos office donor retention rate building donor relationships security user interface major donors Facebook donor recognition new nonprofit nonprofit fundraising donor attrition rate premiums membership benefits Tickles recurring gifts backing up data tax summary letters fundraising letters #GivingTuesday donor slip the Ask importing csv pictures mode code customer service phoning donors motivation new version communications anonymous donors gift acceptance policy look and feel how to handle auction gifts texting donors repeat donors appeal letters Congratulations Thank You overview mission driven online donations giving levels donor prospects community arts nonprofits donor profile letter entering auction gifts membersip benefits banquet ticket sales campaign management correspondence campaign case study donor attrition motivation code donor contact information new features upgrading donors customer portal holiday letters Facebook campaign grants In-Kind gifts operational costs small donations adding personal notes to letters LYBUNTS Reporting to IRS flash sales merge notes alumni donor relations donor advised funds training tip disaster relief gift entry donor correspondance transparency spreadsheets raffle training brick campaign arts New Year donor preferences Snow Birds mailing gift notes field prospects Company culture vacation Network for Good merge fields happiness FundRaiser Basic features user spotlights updates

Connect With Us

  800-880-3454 ext 3
  Email Us
  Request More Information
  Monday-Friday
      8:30AM-5:30PM CST

Customer Portal Login Form

User Name:
Password:

If you are not sure about your Customer User Name, please call 800-543-4131 and we will be able to help you.

Or you have lost your password, Request Password